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12 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
The local newspaper report read: “History was made again by Tempe’s own Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt the week of May 6–9, 2019 in Las Vegas, when she
was awarded the first Convention Clown of Excellence award—also bringing home eight medals and three beautiful plaques from Clowns of America International.”
In 2010 Julie was the first person to win COAI’s Convention Best in Clown award while competing at the COAI Convention in Houston, Texas. This year after, receiv-ing medals in seven out of eight categories in COAI competition in Las Vegas, she then was qualified to win the Convention Clown of Excellence award.
Nothing slows this woman down when it comes to entertaining. She stilt-walks at dozens of events each year in her incredible one-of-a-kind costumes that she creates. She can be found at libraries and schools all over the great state of Arizona entertaining
ConventionClown ofExcellence
COAI AWARDS
By Glenn “Clyde D. Scope” Kohlberger
Julie with her husband, Vance, after the awards banquet.
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 13
with her hand-painted backdrops and crazy props. Her greatest dreams are fulfilled each year when she travels the globe to entertain and teach at events in amazing areas she never thought she would see. Julie is an unstoppable force in the world of clowning.
When asked, “What does it mean to you to have won these awards and bring home so many medals during one
convention?” she humbly replied, “I was honored to be the first Convention Best in Clown winner and more humbled to have won the first Convention Clown of Excellence award. I worked very hard and put in many hours preparing for this convention and all of the competi-tions. In 2008 Leon McBryde told me to go out there and show them the right way to clown. I have tried to uphold my
promise to him every time I go out and entertain. I love what I do, and I do what I love.”
Is there anything she would like to share with fellow COAI members and future joeys of the world? “Take the time each day to smile, laugh and enjoy your life,” she says. “Education is a must in this business we call clowning. Learn as much as you can from those you look up to and those who inspire you. Have fun with everyone you entertain and bring as many smiles to the masses as you can. My daddy told me to always strive to give 110% of yourself, and if you’re going to do it, do it right, and do it right the first time!”
Julie now jokingly tells her friends to call her “Your Excellency.” What’s next on her plate? Anything she wants!
Left: The beautiful plaques and medals Julie won at this year’s COAI Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Right: Julie delivers her hilarious acceptance speech as Clown of the Year, as Carrie Ray, Merrily Schultz, and Mike Cox look on.
Left to right:: Stilt-walking Julie Varholdt, as the Queen of all the Insects, the monarch butterfly. Julie catches forty winks with her competition awards and Clown of the Year plaque.
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 13
14 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Julie Varholdt
Hector Batista
Awards were presented in sixteen categories during the 34th Annual COAI Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recipients were recognized at the banquet on Thursday, May 9, held at the Texas Station Hotel.
Iliana Mojica Fajardo
ALL COMPETITION PHOTOS BY MERILYN BARRETT
14 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 15
Jesse Recker
Julie Varholdt Sarah Smith
ALL COMPETITION PHOTOS BY MERILYN BARRETT
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 15
16 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Andrew Davis
Jessica KingLarry Klobertanz
16 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 17
Esthefany Perez
Lori Swink
John Joseph
Register today for the
2020 COAI Convention
in Niagara Falls, New
York! www.mycoai.com.
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 17
18 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Jennifer Galvez
COAI COMPETITION SCORING Awards are made for the top ten contestants in each category; however, scoring does not always result in awards for all ten positions. In categories with five or fewer competitors, placement is based on percentile achievements. Contestants may also tie for placement.
Maureen Yalenezian
18 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 19
Gus Lamond
Tom King
Contestants who are sixty-five years of age or older may elect to be judged in the Senior Division rather than other makeup and costume categories. All types of clowns will be judged in this category using the criteria set for the various types of clowns. Contestants who elect to be judged in the Senior Division may only enter one category.
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 19
20 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Jessica KingWeather Forecast
Julie Varholdt Brahm’s Lullaby
Fran EtzkornFastest Pancake Eater
Gloria Sterrett I Gotto Think
20 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 21
John Joseph 411
Kent SheetsWinner
Something FishyAnnemarie Prioriello, Nyoka Nixon, Janet Comesky, Denise Lyonnais
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 21
22 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
The MouseSergio Sanchez
The DitzGus Lamond
SinglePerformance
The FlowersZoilo Melendez
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 23
TeapotMaureen Yalenezian
Hydrophobic Shielding unitJesse Recker
Crazy HatIliana Mojica Fajardo
Las Vegas, NVLas Vegas, NVCLOWNS OF AMERICA INTERNATIONAL 2019
24 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Las Vegas, NVLas Vegas, NVCLOWNS OF AMERICA INTERNATIONAL 2019
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 25
Sister ActNicholas Reed, Richard Smith, Roger Lutham, Robert Ratajczak, Deborah
Ratajczak, Charlene Link, Dianna Hale, Gus Lamond, Patti Gaudreau
The SeashoreTerry Cormier, Donald Cormier, Pennie Smith, Lawrence Cruz, Louis Kerr, Gayle Lindeblom, Danny Riggs
The Love is CleanEsthefany Perez, Hector Batista
Group Performance
26 The New Calliope • July/August 201926 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
StorytimeKent Sheets and Dianna Hale
Best CatchJessica King and Tom King
Look for SantaEsthefany Perez, Hector Batista, Iliana Mojica Fajardo
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 27
Tall Queen of the Butterflies Julie Varholdt
Fit in My BackpackMaureen Yalenezian
Search InjunTom King
The ZooJessica King
28 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Frown DetectorJohn Joseph
Pulled PorkDebrorah Ratajczak
Monkey BarSergio Sanchez
COAI P.D.Jesse Recker
ButterfliesNancy Opatich
Energetic BunnyFran Etzkorn
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 29
cheekcheek
Jessica King
Julie Varholdt
Amanda Wisley
Jennifer Galvez
Sergio Sanchez
Sarah Smith
Maureen Yalenezian John Joseph Iliana Mojica Fajardo30 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
full facefull face
Jessica KingAmanda Wisley
Sarah Smith
Julie Varholdt
Jesse Recker Jennifer Galvez
Iliana Mojica Fajardo Sergio Sanchez John Joseph
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 31
John Joseph
Julie Varholdt Phillip WolfeIliana Mojica Fajardo
Zoilo Melendez Sarah SmithJessica King
Tom CassJennifer Galvez
Lawrence Cruz
32 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Julie Varholdt
Jessica KingTom CassSarah Smith
Jennifer Galvez
Iliana Mojica Fajardo
Phillip Wolfe
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 33
Phillip Wolfe
John Joseph
Sarah SmithJennifer Galvez
Tom Cass
Maureen Yalenezian Jessica King
Iliana Mojica Fajardo
Julie Varholdt
34 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Jesse Recker
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 35
INSPIRATION AND HUMOR
By Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe, Junior Joeys Director
Hello, fellow Joeys and followers of the Junior Joey program!
I’m so thankful for the space that is given to me in each issue to share ideas, education, and news. If you are reading this, I believe it’s because you care about the future of clown-ing, and you want to see it continue as much as the COAI Board and I do.
I’d like to thank all the participants from the 2019 COAI Convention who graciously gave to the Junior Joey program during the auction and the convention banquet. We raised
over $1,600 for Junior Joeys! This money will assist kids who need help paying for their memberships, and it will also fund our Pin Program as it begins to take shape.
We want to give a great big shout out to Richard Smith for donating his dazzlingly gorgeous vest right off his back during our banquet. That got a crazy bidding war going between two people, and people started throwing money into the bids so that one of them could win. I was blown away by everyone’s generosity, knowing they had so much fun in giving because it was for the Junior Joeys.
Junior Joeys of all ages—and parents, if you are reading this—the people in our organization believe in the benefits that clowning gives to young people, and we are here to help you. If you want to find a mentor or attend an online meeting or class, or if you need help with your membership fees, please contact me or your Regional Vice President. Our information is on the inside front cover of every issue of The New Calliope.
Mentoring Junior Joeys and having programs for preschoolers, grade-schoolers, teens, and young adults is what the future of clown-ing depends on. Clowning will never die, because comedy is essential for humans to survive. As clowns who are passionate about our art form, we know that there is a history and a standard that we strive for. Yet at the same time we are involved in a growing, evolving art form. Theater, circus, street clowning, carpet clown-ing, and hospital clowning are some of the many different forms of our art. They help people forget their problems for a moment and even
help us deal with the tragedies we face in our crazy, hurtful world of pain and sorrow.
We also know that kids and adults need an outlet to play and have fun. We bring all of this and more to people who seek education from COAI. To those of you who have the desire to teach and pass on this art form to the next gener-ation, I take my hat off to you. I would also ask you to join me in creating a uni-fied effort in helping kids learn about the art of clowning.
We had a meeting at the convention with Junior Joey leaders and decided as a group that we needed to meet at a monthly Zoom meeting online with as many other leaders and parents as we can find who want to discuss the future of clowning and how to pass it on. We would like to meet on the first Monday on August 5 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. I would also like to have leaders connect with me on our Junior Joey Facebook group so that we can share the link and dates for future Zoom meetings. For this I will need your Facebook first and last name.
E-mail me at coaijrjoeys@gmail.com. Tell me your COAI number, full name and clown name if you have one, what state you are in, and if you have a Jr. Joey Program or if you are a parent of a child who is clowning. Please share what year you started clowning, attach a photo of your clown character, and if you would like to be a Junior Joey mentor or just want to gain more skills in teaching Jr. Joeys so that you can start a program in your area. Lets connect, share, and grow. I can’t wait to meet you. TNC
Junior Joeys Director Regina Wollrabe and President Mike Cox watch the fast and furious bidding as Richard Smith conducts an impromptu auction for his dazzling vest, with proceeds going to Junior Joeys.
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